| Show I 1 RIDE new story of the composition affsa famous poem the poem of T buchanan read bead celebrating ele brating the great ride of sheridan and winchester is known to every schoolboy in the land it is one of those stirring pieces that fire tho tha heart and sink deep into the brain to be engraved on the tables of memory forever colonel burr that stalwart michigan soldier told the story of how the poem was written says the chicago tribune it is a tale that every one should know as a matter of his historic torio reminiscence one of the figures on the lecture platform during the war said colonel burr was james E murdock who did a world of good giving entertainments in aid of the ar army along about the time of the battle of cedar creek the ladies of cincinnati concluded to give him a reception in acknowledgment of his many good services to the cause murdock was stopping with cy garrett the brother inlaw in law of read the poet on the afternoon preceding the entertainment cy garrett came into the room where read bead and murdock were chatting in iii his hand he held a copy of a new york illustrated paper pointing to the front page a picture of sheridan on his charger he said there body has gotten ahead of you on that subject it is just in your line you should have done that yourself that is so BO mused read bead the gifted painter poet looking at the picture in the paper and went on garrett the next thing you know some ono one wl will 11 get gel ahead of you with a poem on the subject N now low it chanced that murdock had been asking read bead for a new poem to be given that night at his entertainment and read had responded that that was impossible at as the time was so short murdock ap appreciating precia ting cy garretts suggestions turned to read and said now there Is your chance write me up a stirring thing on this incident 1 read bead fi nally finally said ho he would try the idea was that he would write any jingle in ia rhyme with the privilege of revising it before it was given out for publication he went up stairs staying there for several hours by and by mrs read bead came down saying that T buchanan had ordered some some strong tea and had given orders that he was notto not to be disturbed unless them tha very hou house se was on fire in a couple of hours the poem was brought down sta stair ir cam completed L I 1 ai 1 night there was a tremendous jam of the people at the op opera era house home murdock aras to be presented with a silk flag Fight fighting ilig joo joe hooker presided but that gallant soldier was st sf overcome with emotion that he coula couff scare scarcely ely make the presentation speech murdock bent forward and kissed the flag amid wildest applause responded simply and then advanced advance a to the front of ohp he sta stage 11 and began with dramatic force M and fire to recite reads poem at the conclusion of the poem a wild scene of enthusiasm followed men alen threw up their hats women wept it was many minutes before quiet could be restored it was one of tho most famous scones scenes in all the history of the war wa years after one night T buchanan read had the pleasure of being asked to contribute something to the evenings enjoyment at a party parry given at the home of william cullen bryant in honor of that venerable bards birthday read with telling power stood up and recited how sheridan and at a cedar creek whittler whittier his eyes dua dim with tears grasped the I and of his hia friend and said with g emotion thanks th poem will live as aa long as anvar Ln var |
